Method of optimizing patient outcome from external counterpulsation therapy

Abstract

A method of data management for optimizing the patient outcome from the provision of external counterpulsation (ECP) therapy is described. This method describes a process by which sets of dynamic cardiopulmonary dependent variables are measured during steady-state conditions, displayed, and translated into quantitative and qualitative measurements while the independent variables of ECP, cuff inflation duration and cuff inflation pressure settings of ECP systems, are altered by a physician. In combination with visual observation and computer-assisted ranking of the dependent variables, a physician can utilize the resulting information to render decisions on the optimal choice of the independent variables. The method will enable physicians to collect, view, track and manage complicated data using well-understood visualization techniques to better understand the consequences, acutely and chronically, of their therapeutic actions in general, and of their provision of ECP therapy in particular.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING PROVISIONAL APPLICATION[0001]This application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 10 / 797,943, filed Mar. 11, 2004, now abandoned which, in turn, claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 453,989, filed Mar. 12, 2003. The entire content of both earlier applications is hereby incorporated by reference in this application.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]I. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to the field of external counterpulsation therapy (ECP), and more specifically, to a method for optimizing the patient outcome from such therapy. The disclosed method enables physicians to improve the setting of the cuff inflation pressure and the duration of the inflation pulse.[0004]II. Related Art[0005]External counterpulsation (ECP) has been recently FDA approved as a new indication of therapy for the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF) and angina. Although ECP has been shown to improve patient mor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention, to a large extent, obviates the problems discussed in the foregoing for each of the phases described above. The physiology supportive of the present invention involves the relationship of the pulmonary circulation and gas exchange in the lungs that will readily reflect upon ventricular filling pressures, pulmonary venous flow, and ventilation to perfusion matching in the lungs (see also Definitions). A sound physiologic basis exists to support the theory that the oxygen pulse (O2 Pulse), end-expired, partial pressure of CO2 (ETCO2), and ventilatory equivalents of CO2 (EQCO2) are key parameters to assess pump function

Problems solved by technology

Any therapy, which reduces stroke output of the heart, may cause a volume load on the heart, thus affecting the pulmonary venous blood flow gradient and ventilation to perfusion matching in the lungs.

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